Waves of Tradition:
A New Horizon in Scottish-Chinese Music
by Wan Xing, Eleanor Dunsdon, Gregor Black
Edinburgh
::
Edinburgh ::
19-23 Aug 2025
18:00 – 18:45
Theatre 2 at theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Nicolson St, Edinburgh, EH8 9DW
From £12
Immerse yourself in a tapestry of melodies and rhythms where traditions meet innovation. This unique collaboration unites guzheng, harp and bodhrán, blending the rich heritages of Chinese and Scottish music. Featuring reimagined folk melodies, rhythmic improvisations and contemporary compositions, the performance transcends borders, creating a fresh, evocative soundscape. From delicate harp harmonies to the expressive timbres of guzheng and the heartbeat of the bodhrán, this concert celebrates cultural exchange and musical evolution. Experience tradition flowing into new horizons, bridging East and West in a fresh and innovative performance.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
Wan Xing
Eleanor Dunsdon and Gregor Black are a Glasgow-based harp and percussion duo who met during their postgraduate studies in Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2022. They blend traditional and contemporary sounds, incorporating jazz, folk, classical, vocals, and electronics to challenge perceptions of the harp and push the boundaries of traditional music. Winners of the Danny Kyle Open Stage and Purbeck Rising, they will perform at Celtic Connections and the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival in 2025.
The duo has been featured as 'Rising Stars' at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, performed at Southport's Love Folk Festival, and toured across the UK and Ireland. Selected as the United Kingdom Harp Association's Emerging Artists for 2024, they will collaborate with musicians in London and Glasgow. Their debut EP, Let No Man (2024), has been featured on BBC Radio and RTÉ.
Eleanor also performs with indie alt-folk band Ranagri and has appeared at major festivals including Cropredy and Shrewsbury. She is involved in collaborations with Tony Christie and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Gregor, an accomplished percussionist and bodhrán player, has performed at the BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival, and with the Irish dance show Celtic Legends. He has also contributed to the soundtrack for Outlander: Blood Of My Blood.
Together, they have led workshops at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where they also performed with Ukrainian bandura player Anastasiya Voytyuk in 2024.
about the artists
Wan Xing is a renowned musician and artistic curator, known for her spiritually resonant music with oriental aesthetics. A master of the guzheng, she skilfully blends diverse musical styles, combining traditional and contemporary elements to create a unique sound.
In 2023, she was selected for Yo-Yo Ma's "Silkroad – Global Musician Workshop" and performed in the U.S. Wan has collaborated with major cultural institutions, including commissioned works for the Hong Kong Museum of Art and as artistic director of the "Heartstrings of the Guzheng" series. Her notable projects include performances with the Hong Kong Dance Company and premieres of guzheng compositions by Law Wing-fai.
Her accolades include the Best Performance Award at the Chinese Folk Instruments Competition and the Gold Award at the International Guzheng Competition. Wan Xing graduated with a Bachelor’s degree of Music from the Central Conservatory of Music in China, and a Master’s degree at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts on a full scholarship. She also obtained her second Master’s degree in Cultural Management from the Hong Kong Chinese University. She has recently taught at the Education University of Hong Kong.
Wan has been invited by a number of organizations to musical performances and events of various disciplines, including the Hong Kong Arts Museum, the Leisure and Cultural Service Department, the Hong Kong Space Museum as well as Hong Kong Dance Company, Wuji Ensemble and Taiwan Chiuko Traditional Orchestra.
Wan Xing has more than 20 years of teaching experiences. She has given talks, master classes and performances upon invitations of local universities and secondary schools. Many of her students have excellent achievements at different competitions both in Hong Kong, China, Macao and at international contests, for example championships at the Hong Kong Music Festivals and Asia Culture and Music Competitions in Macao. What’s more rewarding is that students become a better self with joy and satisfaction in the world of music.
Eleanor Dunsdon and Gregor Black
Supported by
